Little was clutch for his team and stayed consistent and efficient throughout this game. He recorded 14 face-off wins at a 70% clip, winning 5 of the first 7 draws and did his best to control the tempo and the time of possession for his team. The Sweetlax product is a gritty and tough matchup to face for the opposition due to his strength and speed at the whistle and his ability to generate quick offense. In the third frame, Little took a wide angle to the net off of a ground ball and used his body to work his way into the middle for a high percentage take and connected to extend the lead. He’s comfortable with the rock and doesn’t put himself into turnover situations too much. The Villanova commit was an integral part of CBA’s second half resurgence and was clutch late in the game when trying to attempt the comeback.

Little has firmly established himself as one of the premier faceoff specialists in the 2027 class. He’s been a constant presence at the summer’s top events — including Maverik Showtime, NAL, Naptown, and Main Stage — and has impressed at every stop. His hand speed is elite, routinely beating opponents to the clamp and dictating the terms of the battle at the X. What makes Little even more effective is how cleanly he exits, whether it’s popping the ball forward to spark transition or pulling it behind and sealing off ground balls with textbook box-outs. He plays within himself, rarely forcing bad shots, and often looks to distribute quickly to his attack — a subtle but valuable trait that sets him apart.

Doing a nice job supplying his team with extra possessions, face-off prospect John Little first popped onto my radar during a brilliant showing in the Showtime All-Star Game in June. At 5’8 and 180 pounds, the New Jersey native is built like a fire hydrant, possessing a frame that resembles former Power 100 recruits Joe Neuman and Petey LaSala. Little, who reclassed last year after transferring in from Christian Brothers Academy, looked strong throughout and continued to show off his power on clamps, clean offensive exits, and aggressive mindset at the X. He did struggle a bit in his matchup with BBL (as did his wings), but he looks to be a name to watch in the Class of 2027 and should see plenty of platoon reps for Culver this spring.